Be Your Own Social Security Advocate

Adult Disability Report - SSA-3368 - Medicines

2012-01-08T15:56:00.002-06:00

So now it's time to list your meds! Round up all of your prescription medicine's that you are now taking, as well as other OTC (over the counter) meds that you are taking. Not only list the name of the meds, but also write above the med name how many milligrams and how often it's taken. Be sure to list the name of the Dr. that prescribed it (it will be on the bottle). In addition to listing the reason for the medicine, make a notation above the reason of any side effects it caused my clients (ie., "causes extreme sleepiness", "makes me nauseated", "causes dizziness"). These side effects are important to note. Remember, any tid bit of info you can provide helps to "paint a picture" for the Disability Examiner when reviewing your claim. Besides (or instead of) their prescription meds (see my post about getting assistance with prescription meds, as well as the link on the side bar for help), many take OTC things like Ibuprofen, vitamins, or use humidifiers, hot pads, or ice packs to help relieve them of their symptoms. Don't forget to list these as well.

Help With Prescription Meds

2012-01-02T14:24:00.004-06:00

You know, it's absolutely heartbreaking when I go to the pharmacy to pick up a med. Usually, I end up seeing someone that doesn't have any sort of insurance or program to help them cover the cost. The prices on meds are just ridiculous! Most will go without their meds simply because they can not afford them. But did you know that the Pharmaceutical Companies that make these meds have programs that you can apply for to get your med free or low cost? Pharmacies don't tell you this. They don't have the time to. I asked a pharmacy once why they didn't offer that information to customers that hang their head and walk away (as an older gentleman had just done before me) not being able to afford their $250 bottle of medicine. I was told, "Because we just don't have the time and everyone would want us to help them apply.". Oh my gosh. Whatever happened to people helping people? Sad to say, but there's not many in this age that has the heart to do that anymore. After hearing that, I asked to speak to the manager and asked if I could come up with a list of the pharmaceutical companies that offer assistance programs for their customers...and explained that some meds can cost well over $1000 a month. The look on his face was one of unbelief. He told me yes, he would work with me on that and took my phone #. Never saw or heard from him again. I'll attempt again. Perhaps it's a project you can do for your own pharmacy and community? Sure would help many. Again, I listed a few links under "Helpful Links" to sites that can assist you with a prescription med program. If you're not seeing your med or pharmaceutical company in the lists, simply look at the company that makes your prescription, Google it, and you should find a "Patient Assistance Program" listed on their page. Having prescription meds can make all the difference in the world and can help many stay out of the ER's and hospitals. If you need help applying, ask your doctor's office to help you apply for the assistance program needed for you to receive your meds.

Adult Disability Report - SSA-3368 - Medical Treatment

2012-01-02T13:38:00.001-06:00

Earlier on the Disability Report, it asked for you to list medical conditions that you have (both physical and mental). Now, you are being asked if you have ever received medical treatment for any of these conditions (physical or mental). If you haven't received treatment for any of the medical problems that you listed earlier, it's in your best interest to set up a Dr. appointment for yourself and discuss with the Dr. everything that you have mentioned on this application. It could be you have medical records for every condition you mentioned...except maybe those migraines you mentioned, or the dizziness you're having, or the depression you've been having. If you know you've listed an ailment that you have never been treated for or have ever mentioned to you Dr., now's the time to make an appointment and tell your Dr. about these things. Otherwise, the SSA may very well set up an exam for you. Not good for them to do so if you can make your own appointment with your clinic or Dr. Many simply do not have the money to make a Dr. appointment. If this is the case, call your county health department and ask them if there is an indigent care clinic that you can go to for an appointment and meds if you need them. There is always help out there. Sometimes it's a matter of making some calls and asking what there is. For those who do not have any form of insurance or money for meds, these clinics can help you apply for med programs from the pharmaceutical companies to get your meds free or at a very discounted rate. (Look under "Helpful Links" on the right of this page to find links for prescription help and free or low cost clinics in your area.). I can't stress enough that it will be much better for you to make an appointment than to wait for the SSA to set one up for you. Oh...they will if there's no recent medical information on the claims that you're making about your condition. They call this a Consultative Exam or "CE" and it is not to your benefit to have a CE scheduled. The doctors that are contracted by the SSA are, in my experience, usually not helpful to the claimant, and more times than not, actually hurt your chances of having your claim approved. I've had clients with migraines be scheduled for a simple physical...lift and lower legs, etc. What? Tell me...is that going to give someone a good report who is there because they are having severe migraines? It's enough to give you one if you didn't have one already. Now...if there's no other choice but to go to a CE, by all means, you must be sure to make that appointment the SSA schedules for you. Otherwise, they frown if you are a "no show" since that appointment is set at tax payers expense. They typically will deny your claim if you don't go. If one is scheduled and you must go...but an emergency comes up (and it had better be an emergency), then call DDS ahead of time and see if it can be rescheduled. Don't wait until the day or even week of the appointment to do that. It wouldn't be good. If you need to have a family member or neighbor take you, DDS will reimburse their mileage, or yours if you drive your vehicle.

Do you have an appointment scheduled with your Dr....or some test scheduled and you're wanting to wait before you file your claim so that you can list the findings on the claim? Don't wait until then. Claims take a long time to process, so you can call and have your future tests and/or appointments added later. If you have the dates to the upcoming tests or appointments, just be sure to include the date so that your medical records can be requested. If months into your pending claim you have more medical treatment (meds, Drs., hospital, ER, ect.) that wasn't listed on your Disability Report, do get in touch with the SSA and give them this information so that your newer medical information can be requested. When case managing, you'll need to be sure to stay on top of things giving updates to the SSA as needed. Now...if you have tons of medical records on your condition(s), but they are not recent...and when I say recent, I mean within the last 3 months...you'll want to schedule an appointment with your care provider. Otherwise, DDS will want to set up a Consultative Exam to get newer information...again...avoid having that done if at all possible. Whatever the case, make sure when you do visit the Dr., make out your list before you even step into his office of the things you need to talk to him about. This way, you won't walk out saying, "I forgot to tell him.....!". By you bringing up all the health issues you are having problems with, he (or she) will make notes in your medical records...the ones DDS will be requesting.

I think I've already touched on this, but when filling in the information on the medical sources...name of Dr. or facility, address, phone #, dates visited....DO be as complete as possible. Use whatever sources and means you have to complete the contact information and this will help speed your claim. Imagine being a Social Security Rep with hundreds of files on and around their desks and they pick up your claim that's incomplete. Know what this means for them? More work having to look up the info that you could have provided. Yes they have a job to do, but this is about you helping you and speeding your claim up as much as possible, right? Go get 'em! Can't remember dates? Again, use your best "guestimate" with time...Month/Year....or even "Fall of 2009" if you have to. Just don't leave dates blank. They need to know from what time to what time to request your records. And better safe than sorry. If you remember if was early in the year of 2011 when you went to the hospital but can't remember the month, it's safer to put "January 2011" to ensure your records are not missed. Just a gentle reminder...it's up to YOU to prove your disability. I want to help you to do just that.

Adult Disability Report - SSA-3368 - Job History

2012-01-01T11:44:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas as well. The holidays had me busy, but I'll pick up where I left off of the Disability Report. OK...this is simple. ONLY fill this Job History section on this form if you have only had ONE job in the past 15 years...or one type of job (maybe you've held 4 waitress jobs the past 15 years, but all had similar duties). If you've had two or more different jobs in the past 15 years, simply draw a line through this section " / " and write "Please see SSA form 3369" in that section. Form SSA-3369 is a exclusively a Job History Report and you will be able to list multiple jobs. If you've never held a job, simple write "NA" in that section.

Adult Disability Report - SSA-3368 - Education & Training

2011-12-24T18:36:00.001-06:00

Section 5 of the Disability Reports asks about your education. Do make sure you only list the last completed grade of school. For example, if you dropped out of your Senior year of high school, you need to check the 11th as the highest grade of school completed. If you attended any kind of special education in school, make sure that this is listed as well. A person's education is part of the deciding factor when DDS is making a decision on their claim. Did you receive any special training? If you have any specialized training like welding, truck driving school, etc., list that as well, where you received the training, and the date completed.

Adult Disability Report - SSA-3368 - Work Activity

2011-12-24T18:24:00.000-06:00

This portion of the Disability Report is extremely important. It asks questions such as "When did you stop working?". The purpose of this question is to find out when your condition become severe enough that you couldn't work on a full-time basis. The date that you list is called your "On Set" date. Even if you've never worked or was not working at the time, list the date that your condition become so severe that you couldn't work full time if you wanted to. It will asks if there were any changes in your work activity if you did work. If your employer worked with you to reduce your job duties, your hours, or if you needed assistance from your coworkers lifting things for example, these would be reason to say "Yes"...you did have changes due to your condition(s). Another thing you'll notice is the question asking if you've worked grossing $980 or more in any month since the date you listed as your "On Set" date. If you have, know that the Social Security Administration will consider this SGA...or "Substantial Gainful Activity". In other words, despite any conditions you're dealing with, if they see that you can gross that amount, they see you as not being disabled under their listings.

* Note: Before I go any further discussing applying for benefits, I want to tell you what I have told ALL of my clients over the years. Do not over exagerrate your condition(s), but do not downplay them either! Tell nothing but the truth. Trust me, they will know or find out if someone is not being truthful when applying, not to mention it is perjury if someone lies on these federal forms and is punishable by law. So please be truthful!

Adult Disability Report - SSA-3368 - Listing Medical Conditions

2011-12-23T15:56:00.008-06:00

In this part of the form, be sure to list ALL medical conditions, both physical and mental, that you receive treatment for. People often focus on a more recent illness or injury when filing a claim, but often forget to list conditions that they've been receiving treatment for years (ie., high blood pressure, diabetes, migraines, depression, anxiety, etc.). There are only 5 lines, so if you need to list more, do use the Comment section at the end of the form.

I'd like to speak more on mental illness. Having worked for years with the mentally disabled, and having a few mentally disabled loved ones in my family, it's near and dear to my heart to try to encourage those suffering from this illness since many in society makes it even more difficult to cope with it. Many times, mental illness goes hand-in-hand with a physical disability, simply because a person gets depressed that they can no longer to the things that they once did and they are tired of feeling bad. From my experience, people are extremely reluctant to list any emotional or mental problems they may be experiencing, largely because society has placed such a stigma on mental illness. They don't won't anyone to think they're "crazy" or weak for seeking help. Know what? Seeking help for a mental illness takes GREAT strength! I'm here to tell you...it is NOT anything to be ashamed of and embarrassed about. A person doesn't ask for this illness no more than someone asks for heart problems. Mental illness is not a respecter of persons. It can be hereditary, drug induced, and/or brought on by severe and sometimes horrific circumstances. It can strike the youngest to the oldest, both rich and poor, educated and uneducated. Some of the sweetest and most intelligent people I know have a severe form of mental illness. One lady in particular that I assisted had 3...yes 3 master degrees, was extremely articulate, and could master the ivory keys on a grand piano like no other. She was amazing and I think of her often. Like diabetes, heart problems, and cancer, mental illness is a REAL illness. People can't see it, so many have a difficult time accepting that someone can be disabled in this way. Personally, if they have never experienced depression or another form of mental illness themselves or with anyone that they know and love, then they have been very blessed. I get angered by those who refuse to try to understand that mental illness is a real illness, but at the same time, I pray that they never have to experience it in their lives or any of those that they love. There is a Hall of Fame of many famous people in history that had (or has) a form of mental illness themselves...Albert Einstein, Ludwig van Beethoven, Ernest Hemingway, Abe Lincoln to name a few. Celebrities aren't exempt either...Jim Carey, Dick Clark, Brooke Shields, Charlie Pride, Patty Duke, Drew Barrymore, Drew Carey, Harrison Ford, Carol Burnett, Carrie Fisher, Courtney Cox, Halle Berry, and Marilyn Monroe all struggle (or struggled) with mental illness. Surprised? If I had a dime for every time someone said to me, "My neighbor draws disability, but they work in the yard, ski, and do all sorts of physical things...they aren't disabled!", I'd be rich. I simply tell them that sometimes...illnesses can not be seen. Perhaps it's a mental disability? "OH!" is usually the next response. Each one of us has a different cross to bear. Hang in there...there truly is a brighter horizon ahead!

Adult Disability Report - SSA-3368 - Names and Additional Contacts

2011-12-21T16:51:00.002-06:00

If you have received medical treatment for your condition(s) under a different last name(s), DO make sure you list all names in which you have. It's extremely important that all medical records be reviewed, and sometimes that can be missed if a maiden name or old married name hasn't been listed. Just a reminder!
Additional contact information is also very important. If the SSA can't reach you, at least they would have a back up to contact to get a message to you.

The Adult Disability Report - SSA-3368 - Contact Information

2011-12-21T16:44:00.001-06:00

The Adult Disability Report (Form SSA-3368) is, to me, the most important of all disability forms and should be filled out completely and thoroughly. On this form, you will list contact information, medical conditions, and medical resources, such as doctor offices, clinics, hospitals, etc. Do your absolute best to list the treating medical facility's address and phone number. If you don't have it on hand, Google it, use yellowpages.com, or find the information you need on your medical records or even medicine bottles. You may need to simply call the Dr./Hospital and ask them for their mailing address. By doing so, you are not only helping the back-logged Social Security Reps save time (because otherwise, they would have to look up this information), but you are helping to expedite your claim since the information will be completed. So I'm stressing again...be thorough when completing this form. Never leave questions blank, even if it means putting "N/A" if a question doesn't pertain to you. This will at least show the Disability Determination Service (DDS) that you have seen the question and didn't just skip over it. Can't remember dates? Put approximate dates...or the year...or "Fall of 2009" for example. This helps DDS know what time period they need to request your medical records for. Insufficient information can mean the death of a claim from the beginning, so remember...get it right the first time!

Apply Electronically ... But Don't Rule Out Old Fashion Writing

2011-12-21T16:27:00.000-06:00

Technology has it that we can apply for disability electronically, but I come from the old school...and some things just shouldn't go away completely! What in the world am I saying? I'm saying, go ahead...start your application electronically. But it's so much easier to capture and critique what you'd like to say when writing, plus you don't have to hit the "back" key to refer back to a previous question you've answered.online. In addition, sometimes (MANY times), I've had additional information and examples of a person's functional disabilities due to their injury or illness that the "Comment" section of the SSA forms just couldn't hold. When applying online, character limitations may prevent you from sharing all the information that really needs to be shared...so write or type what you need the Disability Examiner to know and fax or mail separately if you need to. That's just me, but whatever you decide, do complete the Adult Disability Report (Form SSA-3368) and the Work History Report (SSA-3369) online. It doesn't all have to be completed in a day...or even two. You'll have some time to complete your application, so don't get in so much of a hurry that you fail to be thorough when answering the questions.

Applying....Set That Protective Filing Date

2011-12-21T16:06:00.002-06:00

It used to be that applying for SSD meant going through your local Social Security office first. Over the last several years, the SSA has gone "paperless"...meaning you can log into their site at www.ssa.gov to apply for SSD or SSI. Many of their forms are electronically submitted now. (They also offer other services online such as getting or reapplying for a new Social Security card, applying for Medicare benefits, retirement, etc.). Whether you call or walk into your local Social Security office, the SSA 1-800 #, or begin applying for Disability online, the day you do so will set your "Protective Filing Date". This means that if you are eligible to apply for SSD or SSI and if your claim is later approved, the SSA will go back at least until the day of filing in the way of retroactive back payments.

When Should I Apply?

2011-12-20T17:28:00.003-06:00

Immediately if you know you are disabled and/or will be out of work for a one year period or more! I've done claims for so long, that when someone shares the news with me of their friend or relative that is sick and disabled or who has just undergone a tragic accident or diagnosis with a prognosis that is not good, after the initial sadness of hearing their news, I immediately think, "You should apply for SSD now!". Of course that's usually the last thing that's on the mind of someone that has just had a loved one in a horrible automobile accident, or who has just received news that they have inoperable cancer. Understandably so...my mind would be reeling too. But, because of the amount of time it takes for a claim to process, it's crucial that the person applies immediately for themselves or on behalf of their loved one. If approved, the medical coverage could take care of all or most of the medical bills incurred.

What Is The Difference Between SSD and SSI?

2011-12-20T17:11:00.002-06:00

All of the red tape in the application process is the same whether the claim is for SSDI or SSI. Your work status will decide which program the application will be submitted for. Social Security Disability is based upon an individual's work record and whether or not they have enough work credits to be "insured". If so, the claim will be a SSDI claim, and if approved, the claimant's monthly disability check will be based on a percentage of their past wages. After two years from the date of onset, an individual will qualify to receive Medicare.

SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a needs based (or welfare) program for very low income individuals and families having a small amount of resources. This program is not based on work credits and babies, children, adults, as well as adults over the age of 65 may qualify for this program. Never assume you don't qualify to apply! Over the years, I have seen many families with a disabled child who didn't feel they qualified to apply for SSI. The SSA has a deeming chart, and depending on the amount of people living in the home and income/resources, you just may qualify to apply. Some income and resources don't count against you. The worst that SSA can say is you're over income or resources and you don't qualify to apply, right? That can change in a heartbeat....so you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain if the claim is approved. Anyone that is approved for SSI also will receive Medicaid.

*Note: Sometimes, a person has enough work credits and is insured for their claim to be for Social Security Disability...BUT...if their wages were very low, they very well could receive both SSDI/SSI. This is known as "Concurrent Benefits".

What Qualifies As Being Disabled?

2011-12-20T16:48:00.002-06:00

An individual may have one or more disabling conditions, but in order to receive Social Security Disability Benefits, they must meet the criteria for being blind or disabled under the laws of the Social Security Administration (SSA). A person's condition must prevent them from having what the SSA deems as Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). Simply put, they are looking to see that a person is not able to work full time due to their condition(s) at least for a 12 month period or more, or that the disabling condition is expected to end in death. Many don't realize that one condition may not qualify a person as being disabled under SSA rules, but multiple conditions just may...so do list ALL of your medical conditions when applying for your disability.

Welcome!

2011-12-20T14:57:00.000-06:00

Welcome to my new blog, How To Be Your Own Social Security Advocate. If you've landed here, chances are you or someone you love is in need of disability benefits. I'll do my best to post tips at least a few times a week and will assist individuals as I can with any questions pertaining to applying for and case managing their claim during the application process. It IS possible to apply for disability yourself and it IS possible to be approved, or "allowed", with the initial application. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Can you be your own disability advocate? Absolutely! I must warn, your health must allow you to be able to be organized and persistent in this process since it takes months to receive a decision on your claim.

Let me just say, that I am not a lawyer or attorney of any sort, and with that being said, my expertise in NOT in Social Security Law. One doesn't have to be a lawyer to fill out the paperwork and case manage a claim. That would be equivalent to saying you must hold a masters degree in agriculture to plant a garden! You can read a little about my experience under the About Me column. I'm a simple person who has a strong compassion in helping others in need. I've worked in the human relations and mental health fields for years...have been a city letter carrier for 6 years...obtained my real estate license in the state I reside in...have been self employed as a Social Security Disability Advocate, but closed my office 7 years ago for the purpose of being a full time Army mom. When the war was new and there wasn't much support to be found, I founded a nationwide Army Mom support group. It and supporting my soldier and troops have certainly kept me busy! But now that my ABN Ranger son has just left the Army, I can once again fully concentrate on assisting others in their disability applications. I like to speak as simply as possible so that all can understand the process. Let me know if something needs to be explained more clearly or more detailed. I've never claimed to "know it all", so if I don't feel I can help, I'll tell you so. So here's to a new start!